Join Art Leap Adventures as we check out of city life and mosey on out to spend a few days unwinding in the sprawling and serene high Mexican desert ranch, Cañada de la Virgen, located just outside San Miguel de Allende. You won't need your iPad, but please bring your sketchpad, and your sturdy boots.

Cañada de la Virgen is a vast, rugged and historic piece of land located near the Laja River basin on the western perimeter of San Miguel de Allende, in the Mexican State of Guanajuato. It boasts high mountain ranges, ancestral pyramids, natural springs and the winding Virgen River with its numerous canyons, which our cattle, horses, indigenous wildlife and flora call home.​​​​The working cattle ranch was accepted into the Mexican federal program of nationally protected areas (ANP), and has also submitted its land management to yearly stringent inspection by Italian organic certification organization, "BioAgricert"; the entire property has been continuously certified organic since 2009. Cañada de la Virgen made a commitment to the conservation, protection and restoration of all national and indigenous flora and fauna of the region. You may be familiar with thearchaeological area of Cañada de la Virgen, consisting of the famed local pyramids and the 16 surrounding hectares, which were privately donated to the INAH in 2000, and are located with the ranch property. We will not be visiting the pyramids on this ranch getaway, we instead will be kicking back down by the hacienda and ranch operations.

We'll gather at mid-day at the parking lot of La Comer in San Miguel de Allende on Thursday, then transfer your bags to our vehicles and drive into the canyon to the ranch, enjoying the views and fresh air, arriving at our ranch home: Casa Chica.

Once settled in your room and suitably unpacked, we'll gather for a snack at our communal outdoor dining table and tell you more about the ranch and get you familiar with your home for the next few days.​Duration: 3 days, 2 nights​Date: Thursday, August 17th at 2:00pm to Saturday, August 19th at 4:00pmPrice: $260 USDTravel Guide: Meagan Burns, Art Leap Adventures​Accommodations and Ranch Guides: Cañada de la Virgen​Group size limited to 6 people​Walking and ability to move about is necessary on this trip

*If an emergency requiring phone service arises, we will make immediate arrangements to get to a location with phone service.​

AGENDA

​DAY ONE, THURSDAY:​1:30pm Meet at the parking lot of La Comer in front of the Pipila​2:00pm Load up vehicles and depart for Ranch​2:30pm Vista stop of the Cañada de la Virgen pyramids​3:30pm Arrive at the Ranch, get settled 4:30pm Snacks at the Casa Chica outdoor dining​5:30pm Guided walk with Estella​6:30pm Return to Casa Chica​7:30pm Rancho dinner, bonfire and star gazing

Sketching Cows at Cañada de la Virgen

Packing:​Please pack light and pack for the outdoors: jeans, shorts, t-shirts, sweatshirt, hiking shoes, sandals, toiletries, art supplies, a book, camera, sunscreen, hat.You won't need jewelry, nor fancy electronic equipment (there is no wifi), the focus of this trip is to relax at the ranch, and record our adventures in our sketchbooks (if you desire). Sketching is not required, but packing light for adventure is required.

Suggested items to bring along:Adult beverages of choice for two evenings​Sketching arsenal to include your art stool (muy importante)​Additional snacks you may want (note: the ranch does not have refrigeration, but we have ways to work around it. If you have food or medication that requires refrigeration, please let us know promptly so we can make arrangements.)Don't forget your hatAluminum water bottleFlashlightLong SleevesSturdy ShoesSneakers for Horseback RidingPlastic flip-flops for crossing the river​​Our goal is to leave the ranch prettier than when we arrived, so please be aware of trash and recyclables. We prefer no plastic bottles.

These three days and two nights are for travelers, artists, environmentalists, dreamers and people who love peace and tranquility; it's an opportunity to get unplugged and enjoy the sounds of no internet.

​Trip is limited to seven people in five bedrooms of Casa Chica: 2 bedrooms have twin beds allowing roommates (4 people)​3 bedrooms have matrimonial beds allowing singles (3 people) (no couples on this voyage)​Two bathrooms with showers​Limited electrical outlets (charging phones will need to be discussed and arranged)​Rooms are first come first serve​High thread count linens on all beds​Walking is required for this trip, including the ability to move your belongings.